Drainage valve system



' e. T. BROWN DRAINAGE VALVE SYSTEM Oct. 18, 1949.

Filed March 6. 1947 Patented Oct. 18, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs DRAINAGE VALVE SYSTEM George T. Brown, Somerville, Mass.

Application March 6, 1947, Serial No. 732,902

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fluid pressure systems, and more particularly to a drainage valve and valve-operating means adapted to be applied to such systems for draining liquid and other foreign matter therefrom.

In fluid pressure systems, such as those used in the air brake and general control systems of motor busses and the like, liquids, comprising mostly water, collect within the system due to condensation of the moisture contained within the :air. When this water, along with accumulated oil and sludge, is not frequently drained, it will interfere with the operation of the system, for the reason that it will rot the rubber diaphragms and gaskets and will also foul the various operating elements, thereby to cause sluggish operation of the entire air pressure system. Furthermore, an overaccumulation of water within the system may freeze, and thereby impair the operativeness f the system.

It has been the practice heretofore, in discharging such foreign matter from an air pressure sysrtem, to place manually operated valves at the bottom of the air reservoir. Thus. it is apparent that when such systems are used on motor busses, the

reservoirs are frequently located in rather inaccessible positions and, therefore, operators will frequently neglect to open the manually operable drain valves at the necessary intervals.

It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an air-pressure system with an improved drainage valve mechanism which may be actuated, while the system is in operation, without dropping the air pressure below a predetermined value.

A further object of the present invention is to provide, with an air-pressure system, a drainage valve mechanism which may be remotely controlled by and at the will of an operator.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a drainage valve mechanism which may be readily applied to any standard type of air-pressure system without necessitating any changes in the system proper.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices, combinations, and arrangements of parts, hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the invention, and the advantages obtained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in'the art.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, partly in ection, of the present drainage valve,

Fig. 2 represents a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an airpressure system to which the present drainage valve is attached.

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electrical system which is used in conjunction with the present drainage valve.

Fig. 5 represents, on an enlarged scale, a portion of the valve mechanism disclosed in Fig. 1.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the present drainage valve comprises 'a substantially hollow casing 10 having provided therein, a pair of threaded apertures II and I2 in which are secured, respectively, an inlet tube 13 and an outlet tube The inlet tube [3 is adapted to be secured to the lower portion l5 of a usual type of air reservoir l6. Fig. 3 discloses a simplified version of a usual type of air-pressure system comprising an air compressor unit I! which is connected to the air reservoir [6 by means of a delivery conduit l8. Thus, the air compressor 11 is adapted to supply air under pressure to the reservoir l6, which functions to store such air for use by a plurality of air-actuated means which receive the air from the reservoir "5 by means of a conduit l9.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2, and 5, the present casing I0 is form'ed with a substantially horizontally disposed bore 20, which communicates with a substantially vertically disposed bore 2! extending through the casing to open up at the lower portion thereof. A flange 22 is formed about the lower portion of the casing l 0 and secured to this flange is a hollow cup member 23. The cup member 23 is also provided with a flange 24, which is secured to the flange 22 by means of suitable bolts 25 and nuts 26. As best seen in Fig. 1, the cup 23 is provided with a bore 21 which is disposed in vertical alignment with the bore 2i of the casing Ill. The forward portion of the casing bore 20 is threaded, as at 28, thereby to receive a threaded bulkhead 29, which is provided with a central bore 30 communicating directly with the casing bore 20. Also received within the threaded portion 28 of the bore 20 is a threaded stud 3! having a hexagonal head portion 32 which abuts against a face portion 33 of the casing 10, whenever the same is seated within the bore 20. Still referring to Fig. 1, the bulkhead 29 is provided with a shoulder portion 34, which is adapted to engage an annular shoulder 34' formed within the bore 20 and thus, the bulkhead 29 is held within a predetermined position Within the bore 20, whenever the same is seated home. From this, it will be understood that the bulkhead 29 and the threaded stud 3| will always be spaced a predetermined distance apart, longitudinally of the bore 20, thereby to form a substantially cylindrical chamber 35 which communicates with the threaded aperture H by means of a short conduit 36.

The rear portion of the casing conduit 20 has communicating therewith, an aperture 31 which has threaded therein, a cylindricalv sleeve member 38 which is provided witha longitudinally disposed bore 39. Slidably received within the bore 39 is a valve-actuating pin 40, the inner por-- tion of which is provided with an aperture; 4| in which is received a rear end portion of 'a valve stem 42. The other end of the valve stem &2: has formed thereon, a valve. head. 43. which is provided with a conical should'er portion 44, an annular flange 45, and a shoulder member'lfi. Referring particularly to, Figs. 1 and 5, it is to be understood that the. valve. stem. 42 extends loosely through the bulkhead bore. 3.0,.so. that the valve head 43 is disposed within the cylindricalchamber 35. Cooperating. with the. conical shoulder 44 of the valve head 43 is a conical. valve seat 41 formed at the right-hand end; portion, of the bulkhead bore 31L An. annular recess 48,, concentrically positioned. about the bore. 317. and;within the face portion. of the bulkhead 29,, provides clearance for thevalve head 43; The. stud 3i is provided with a circular recess. 43 which is adapted to receive a portion of the. valve head 43'... This. recess 49 functions primarily as a, seat for acoil spring 50, one end of. which abuts thev base portion of the recess, 49;, and the other end of which engages the annular" flange 45. of the valve. head 43', to the end that the. shoulder. portion 44 of the valve head is. biased into engagement with the valve seat 41".. The shoulder portion 46 of the valve head' 43 is surrounded by the spring 50 and acts to confine the spring in'its properrelation with the valveheadi 43. From. the above, it is to be understood that the spring 55' normally functions to close the above described valve, so that no communication may be normallyhad between the inlet tubel='3 and the bore 2 1 of. the casing I'll. However, it is tobe further' understood that, if the valve pin 40 is shifted toward the right-hand side of the casing, it will be effective to unseat the valve-mechanism to the end that the inlettube or conduit l"3 would beplacedin direct communicationwith the bore 21' of the casing IEI.

Referring particularlyto Fig. I, the sleeve- 38 has provided at one end? thereof, a head member t, and between this heact memberand a block 52 providedon thecasing W; is positioned a cylindrically woundelectrical coil Projecting-upwardl y from the block or-seatt 52 is: a non-magnetic yoke 54, which has: its: mid-portion disposed substantiallyin parallelism with the: pin MI and its free endiportioniis'bentidownwardly; as at 55; This yoke 53'. carries a. cross.- pin 56 upon which is pivotallymounted: a. magnetim flapper 51 which is adapted tobe: shifted, toward thecoiL' 53;. wheneven the same is; energized. Eromthi'sg, it is to be understood; thereupon: energization of the: coil 53, the. flapper will move: in. a, rightz handed direction, therebytm engageithe distal. end portion of the pin 40, to: the;end:.that the: hereinabove described inlet. valve mechanism will be: unseated; it being understood. thatithe strength of the. coil 5.3 is. suflicienir to overcome: the biasing force of the spring 50.. llhe: flapper element. 5 has formed; thereoma: projection; 58; which is adapted to. cooperate; with the: depending; portion. 55: of

the yoke, thereby to prevent the flapper member from moving to the left beyond a predetermined angle.

The lower portion of the casing bore 2! is provided with a pair of concentric bores 59 and 60, and force-fitted within the bore 59 is a cylindrical bulkhead member 6| which is provided with an aperture 62, the lower shoulder portion of which functions as a valve seat for cooperation with a valve ball 63. This valve ball 63 has depending therefrom, a stem 64' which is received within a pair of base members 65 and 66, each of which is disposed upon an opposite face of a flexible diaphragm member 61. This stem 64 is threaded and receives a pair of oppositely disposed nuts 68 and 69, which function to bias the base members65 and 66 toward each other to the end that' the entire valve ball assembly is carried upon the diaphragm 61, which is sandwiched between the flanges 22 and 25. Thus, the diaphragm 61 functions as a gasket to prevent the egress of fluid. from. between the flanges 22 and 2.4, and it also functions as aflexible holder for the valve ball assembly. Disposed within the bore 21 of the cupmember 23 is a coil spring 10 the upper end portion of' whichis' adapted to surround the nut 69 and engage the base member 66': The lower end portion ofthe'spri ng 10 engages a cupped thrust member N which is mountedupon the upper end of an adjusting screw 1'2 threaded in the lower portion of the cupmember 23-. From this; it is to-be understood that the spring 1 0' functi'onsnormally to" bias the valve ball 63 into engagement with the bulkhead 61, thereby to prevent communication between the bore El and the-bore 60'; It' i's'to be particularly noted that the outlet tube I4 is threaded within the aperture or port I2, which communicates directly with the bore 60-. Thus; as long as the valve ball is in: it's normally closed posi tion, the outlet tube 14 cannot communicatewith the bore Tl or with the reservoir I 6 By the same token, whenever this lower exhaust vallve is opened, the outlet M will be placed in direct communication with the bore 2 1".

As herein'above noted; the present drainage valve is adapted to have its inlet tube [3 connected to the bottom: portion of an air reservoir I 6 and, from this, it will be: apparent that any foreign matter, such as Water, oil;.or an emulsion of oilland waterwhich collects within: the reservoir l 6=', will tend to; flow into the inlet tube l3 and, consequently, into the cylindrical chamber 35 of the casing I0; However; as long as the checkvalve unit, comprising the valvehead: 43 and. the bulkhead 34, remains closed; this accumulated foreign matter: fronrthe reservoir t6 cannot find its way into thebores 20 and 2|? of the, casing l0; Uponienengization of the1coilz53 as hereinabove described, the check valve will beopened tothe endl that the: foreign matter will: find its. way from. the: inlet l3 to thezihterior'portibns ot'thet casing Ill.v The presentinvention: contemplates that the. spring: 10 will be1so= adjusted that the fluid pressure within the air" reservoir 16. will be efiective, upon. the opening of. the check valve, to. force the. valve" ball. 63:? away from. the bulkhead. Bil only; in the: event: that the pressure of the fluidz reaches: a predetermined value; In; this. connection, it might be, well; to point out that most: all; states have laws regulating the installationand use of: air" pressure: systems. upon vehicles engaged as common carriers. For-examplezsome states require that the motor bus; air pressure brake systems have; an: aim pressureof; 60 pounds per square inchatiall-times; during, theoperation of such vehicles. From this, it is to be understood that, in order legally to operate the present valve system, it will be necessary to adjust the spring 1!], so that the valve ball 63 cannot open until the air pressure within the reservoir I 6 rises above 60 pounds per square inch. Thus, the present invention is adapted to be used during the operation of the air pressure system, for the reason that the use thereof will not reduce the required air pressure within the air pressure system below the required legal limit. Therefore, it is apparent that the present drainage valve mechanism maybe operated while the vehicle,

upon which it is used, is in operation and, therefore, the operator of the vehicle may purge his air pressure system of foreign matter at frequent intervals, thus obviating the necessity of deferring this purging action until the vehicle is put out of operation.

The hereinabove noted adjusting screw 12 functions as an adjusting means to the end that the spring 10 may be calibrated for any predetermined air pressure. In other words, by adjusting the screw 12, it will be apparent that the exhaust valve may be made responsive to various predetermined fluid pressures. The distal end portion of the adjusting screw 12 is provided with a pair of nuts l3, 13, which function to lock the screw 12 in any one of its adjusted positions.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 4, the present coil 53 is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed terminals 14 and 15, of which the former may be connected to a grounded element by means of an electrical conductor 16. The terminal 15 may then be connected with an electrical conductor 1'! to one terminal of a knife switch 18 which may be mounted within comfortable reach and visibility of the vehicle operator. Whenever the knife switch 18 is thrown into operative position with its cooperating terminal 19, the coil 53 is adapted to be energized, for the reason that the terminal 19 is connected to one side of an electrical power source, such as a battery 88. The other side of the battery 80 may be connected by means of a conduit 8| to a grounded element of the vehicle, thus, to complete the coil circuit. If desired, the knife switch 18 may be connected, by means of a conductor 82, to one side of an electrical buzzer 83, the other side of which may be appropriately grounded by means of a conductor 84. Therefore, whenever the knife switch 18 is closed for the purpose of energizing the coil 53, it will also be efiective to energize the buzzer 83, to the end that the human operator will be advised as to whether the electrical system is working properly. Of course, a visual signal may be substituted for the audible buzzer 83. Furthermore, with such an audible or visual signal placed within the system, the operator will not be likely to leave the knife switch closed beyond the necessary time interval required for purging the system.

With the present valve mechanism, as hereinabove described, there is some possibility that, upon the opening of both the check and exhaust valves, air and moisture will be blown out through the sleeve bore 39 about the pin 40. This condition may be readily obviated by providing a packing about the pin 48, but the present invention contemplatesthe provision of a third bulkhead 85 which is adapted to be threaded into the bore so as to be seated against a shoulder 86. As may be best seen in Fig. 5, this bulkhead 85 is provided with a shouldered aperture 81 through which passes the valve stem 42. It is to be understood that whenever the check valve is closed the 6. end portion of the pin is spaced from the bulkhead 85, but whenever the coil 53 is energized it will be effective to shift a conical shoulder portion 88 of the pin 40 into engagement with the bulkhead shoulder 81 thereby to prevent the fluids from blowing out through the sleeve bore 39 as the check valve is opened. This sealing means or valve will, of course, in no way interfere with the operation of the check and exhaust valves.

From the above, it is to be understood that the present drainage valve system comprises a Substantially self-contained unit which may-be readily connected to any usual type of air pressure system by merely connecting the inlet tube [3 to the reservoir of such a system. Use of the present invention requires no elaborate modification to be made in the air pressure system to which it is to be attached. Thus, existing air pressure systems may have the present drainage valve mechanism applied thereto With a minimum expenditure of time and money.

Iclaim:

l. Drainage mechanism for a fluid pressure, system, comprising, an inlet conduit adapted to be attached to the system so as to be in communication with the interior thereof, an outlet conduit connected with said inlet conduit, a mechanically operable valve and a fluid pressure operable valve connected in series between said inlet and outlet conduits so that said conduits will communicate with each other only upon the opening of both of said valves, said mechanically operable valve being disposed between the other valve and said inlet conduit, spring means for biasing said fluid pressure operable valve to a normally closed position and being calibrated so that its valve Will open in response to the force of th fluid pressure within said system when the pressure of said fluid rises above a predetermined value only, means for adjusting said spring so that its valve will be rendered responsive to various predetermined fluid pressure values, electro-magnetic means for shifting said mechanically operable valve to an open position, a manually controlled switch for energizing said electro-magnetic means at the will of an operator, and signal means connected in circuit with said switch so as to be energized in synchronism with said electro-magnetic means.

2. Drain valve mechanism for a fluid pressure system, comprising, a casing having an inlet at one end thereof adapted to be attached to the bottom portion of the reservoir so as to be in communication with the interior of the reservoir, a conduit disposed longitudinally of said casing so as to communicate with said inlet and to open out at the other end of said casing, a hollow cup disposed against the other end of said casing and over said conduit, a liquid-tight diaphragm disposed between said casing and said cup, an outlet disposed within the casing wall and in communication with said casing conduit at a location adjacent said diaphragm, a normally closed first valve disposed within said casing conduit between said inlet and said outlet, means for opening said first valve thereby to place said casing conduit in communication with the interior of said system, a second valve disposed in engagement with said diaphragm and within said casing conduit between said outlet and said first valve, and spring means disposed in engagement with said diaphragm and within said cup for biasing said second valve to a normally closed position, said second valve being adapted, upon the opening of assume 1 said: first valve; to: open in response: to: the system: mpzessune-whenever'the same exceeds a predetermined? valueionl-y.

3 Maine valve mechanism; for a fluid pressure system, comprising, a casing having an: inlet at oneend; thereof. adapted: to be attached to the bottom portion of the reservoir soas to be in minimisation with. the interior of the reservoir, a conduit: disposed longitudinally of said casing so as to communicate with said inlet and to open out? at the other end of said casing, a hollow cup disposed against the other end of said casing with the hollow portiorr. of said cup disposed coaxially of said casing conduit, a: liquid-tight diaphragm disposed between said: casing and said cup, an outlet disposed within. the casing wall so as to be in: communication with and at right angle to said: easing, conduit at a location adjacent one side at said diaphragm, a normal-1y closed first valve disposed within said casing conduit be- 8 said. system;. a secondivalwe carried upon one. side of. said diaphragm and within said: casing conduit hetween; said: outlet and: said first valve; and spring means disposed in: engagement with said diaphragm andiwitliim said: cup ton biasing said second valve to? ainomtaliy closed: position, said second valve being adapted, upon. the opening of saidfirst valve, to in. response to the system; fluid; pressure whenever the sameexceeds a; prez determinedivalueoml'm GEGRGE 'I BROWN.

REFERENGES CITED T136 following" references are of record in the file of this WNI'BED S EATES PATENTS Number Name Date 717,081 Corrington Dec; 30', 1902 1801,853 Farmer Apr; 21, 1931 21007358 Anger Ju1y'9', 1935- 213*2638? se'xrfcu d Aug. 10; 1943 2333302 7" churchmen et" af: Sept. 21 1943' 

